Toy with openable container from which one or more objects spring out

ABSTRACT

A toy including an openable container, and a non-porous, molded, hollow, elastic three-dimensional representative object arranged to be contained in a compressed condition within the container such that on opening the container the object springs out by assuming its uncompressed shape and size.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to a toy or novelty item involving anelement of surprise.

BACKGROUND

[0002] A known jack-in-the-box toy comprises a box containing a figurearranged to jump out when the lid of the box is opened. The figure isattached to a spring, which forces the figure against the lid. Inanother known toy, a fabric-covered spring simulating a snake ejectsitself from a rigid container on removing the lid.

[0003] In these known toys, the manufacture of the sprung figure islabor-intensive.

[0004] Known jack-in-the-box type toys are characterized by rapiddeployment under the action of springs. There may be a plurality ofejecting or extending parts, but these operate substantiallysimultaneously.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] This invention relates to a toy including an openable container,and a non-porous, molded, hollow, elastic three-dimensionalrepresentative object arranged to be contained in a compressed conditionwithin the container such that on opening the container the objectsprings out by assuming its uncompressed shape and size.

[0006] In another aspect, the invention relates to a toy including anopenable container, and a three-dimensional representative objectarranged to be contained within the container such that on opening thecontainer the object springs out, the container being arranged forattachment to another container, wherein opening of the container causesthe adjacently fitted other container to open.

[0007] Yet another aspect of the invention relates to a toy including anopenable container, and a plurality of representative objects concealedwithin the container such than on opening the container, the objectsspring out in a predetermined order.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] The invention will now be described in more detail, by way ofexample only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0009]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a container according to anembodiment of the invention;

[0010]FIG. 2 shows the container of FIG. 1 with an object emergingtherefrom;

[0011]FIG. 3 shows the object of FIG. 2 mounted on a plinth formed fromthe lid of the container;

[0012]FIG. 4 shows a container according to a second embodiment;

[0013]FIG. 5 is a cut-away side perspective view of the container ofFIG. 4, not showing the representative object;

[0014]FIG. 6 shows the container of FIG. 4 in the process of beingopened;

[0015]FIG. 7 shows the container of FIG. 4 in the opened position withthe object extended;

[0016]FIG. 8 shows containers according to a third embodiment;

[0017]FIG. 9 shows the containers of FIG. 8 in the process of beingopened;

[0018]FIG. 10 shows the containers of FIG. 8 in the opened position withtheir objects extended;

[0019]FIG. 11 is an exploded view of a possible mechanism for the toyshown in FIGS. 8 to 10;

[0020]FIG. 12 shows a toy according to a fourth embodiment;

[0021]FIGS. 13 and 14 show, in the closed and opened conditionsrespectively, a toy according to an embodiment of the other aspect ofthe invention; and

[0022]FIGS. 15 and 16 show in the closed and opened conditionsrespectively a toy according to a further embodiment of the other aspectof the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0023] One aspect of the invention provides a toy or novelty itemcomprising an openable container, and a non-porous, molded, hollow,elastic, three-dimensional representative object arranged to becontained in a compressed and distorted condition within the containersuch that on opening the container the object springs out under itsinherent elasticity by assuming its uncompressed shape and size.

[0024] The representative object may comprise a human, animal, cartoonor fantasy figure or a vehicle or any object such as an item of food,furniture or clothing, which children may wish to collect. Therepresentative object is conveniently injection molded, preferably inone piece, from rubber or an elastomeric material such as astyrene-butadiene-styrene copolymer or another of the copolymers soldunder the trademark “Kraton”.

[0025] Preferably, the container comprises a lid which is released toopen the container. The container may comprise a capsule to which thelid is attached with an interference fit. Alternatively, a releasablecatch may be provided for securing the lid to the container. A springmay be provided for biasing the lid into an open position. The containermay comprise a parallelepiped box arranged to be demounted on releasingthe lid.

[0026] The container may itself represent an object in the closed state,such as, but not limited to, a packing case, purse, bag or vehicle.

[0027] The representative object can be permanently or temporarilyattached to the inside of the container. If the object is not attachedor is detachable from the container, at least a portion of the containermay be capable of forming a plinth on which the object can be stood.

[0028] The object may be decorated, for example, with paint or varnish.The container may be decorated on its outside and/or its inside, forexample, by applying stickers or paint.

[0029] According to another embodiment of the invention, the containeris capable of being attached to an identically shaped container. Suchcontainers can be collected and any number of them can be fittedtogether in a series. Preferably, opening of one of the containerscauses an adjacently fitted container, which may be identical to thefirst container or be a different collectable container, to open aswell. Thus, a series of containers will open in sequence. Thisembodiment is not limited to compressible elastic representativeobjects.

[0030] Whilst the representative object is usually arranged to springout generally vertically from the container, it may alternatively bearranged to spring out generally laterally. A plurality of elasticrepresentative objects may be contained within the container.Additionally, one or more relatively rigid representative objects may becontained within the container, formed integrally with a base, wall orlid of the container and/or arranged to spring out when the container isopened, for example, by means of a hinged connection to a wall of thecontainer.

[0031] Another aspect of the invention provides a toy or novelty itemcomprising an openable container, and a plurality of representativeobjects concealed within the container such that on opening thecontainer the objects spring out in a predetermined order.

[0032] Preferably, at least one of the representative objects comprisesa representative surface (for example, a floor or wall of a building) onan inside of a flap forming a portion of the container. Furtherspringing representative objects may include figures, vehicles, items offurniture and other pieces of toy equipment.

[0033] In a preferred embodiment, on opening the container, for example,by releasing a catch or the like, at least one first representativeobject springs out quickly and at least one second representativesprings out slowly so that it is finally deployed some time (e.g. a fewseconds) after the first representative object is deployed. Slowspringing may be achieved by using dampened springs in a manner similarto the “soft eject” mechanisms used in known audio tape recorders.

[0034] Further parts of the toy can be arranged to fold out under theaction of gravity or under a user's control, for example, by pressing abutton.

[0035] This aspect of the invention can with advantage be combined withthe features mentioned above, such as the compressible, preferablyhollow, elastic representative objects, which may be detachable, themutually connectable containers and the containers which representobjects when in the closed condition.

[0036] Turning now to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows a container in the formof a capsule, comprising a lid 1 attached to a base 2 with aninterference fit. The capsule is molded from relatively rigid plasticsmaterial and can be opaque, clear or tinted. The shape of the capsuleallows labels 3 to be affixed.

[0037] The capsule contains a monster-like FIG. 4, shown in FIGS. 2 and3, which has been compressed by hand to fit inside the capsule. The FIG.4 is injection molded as a hollow body from an elastomeric material andpainted.

[0038] By squeezing the base 2 of the capsule, the lid 1 is released andthe FIG. 4 is free to pop up as shown in FIG. 2, assuming its originalshape and size. Surprisingly, the FIG. 4 has been placed in a smallerspace than its volume should allow, due to its elasticity and its hollownature.

[0039]FIG. 3 shows how the lid 1 can be fitted over the upturned base toform a plinth on which the FIG. 4 is stood.

[0040] In an alternative embodiment, the capsule is a standard ovoidvending machine capsule.

[0041]FIGS. 4 and 5 show an alternative container in the form of acube-shaped box. Vertical walls 105 of the box are hinged to a base 106but are not attached to each other. A lid 107 is hinged to the rear wallof the box and engages the other walls.

[0042] As shown in FIG. 5, a lever 108 is pivoted to the inside of thebase 106 at its center, by means of pegs 109 which extend transverselyfrom the lever and engage in seats 110 (only one of which is shown) onthe base 106. The lever 108 extends below an internal floor 111 of thebox and an end 112 of the lever protrudes from the rear of the box. Anoptional coil spring 113, fixed to the base 106, biases the lever 108such that the end 112 is raised. The other end of the lever 108 isL-shaped and abuts one end of a pivotable cross bar 114, formedintegrally with an initially vertical catch lever 115. A catch 116 atthe top of the catch lever 115 engages a lip 117 depending from thefront edge of the lid 107, and holds the lid closed. The hinge 118connecting the lid 107 to the rear wall 119 is optionally fitted with aspring (not shown), biasing the lid upwardly.

[0043] To open the box, the protruding end 112 of the lever 108 isdepressed, as shown in FIG. 6, against the action of the spring 113 orby pressure exerted by the FIG. 104. The other end of the lever movesupwardly, causing the cross bar 114 and the catch lever 115 to pivot.This releases the catch 116 from the lip 117 and the lid 107 opens underthe action of the spring at the rear hinge 118. The walls 105 pivotdownwardly and the FIG. 104 is extended as shown in FIG. 7.

[0044]FIG. 8 shows four boxes according to a third embodiment of theinvention which have been clipped together using interengageablefeatures on each of the boxes. The interengageable features may, forexample, comprise pegs and slots which engage with slots and pegsrespectively on an adjacent box.

[0045] As shown in FIG. 9, if one of the boxes 220 is opened, so thatthe contained FIG. 221 (in this case a pop singer) is extended, theadjacent box 222 is caused to open by the interaction of mechanicalcomponents of the boxes. This in turn causes the third box 223 to open,until all of the boxes have opened in sequence, and all of the figuresare extended, as shown in FIG. 10.

[0046]FIG. 11 is an exploded view of one of the boxes shown in FIGS. 8to 10, omitting the figure. The box comprises a raised base 224 formedintegrally with a back wall 225, and side flaps 226 hinged to the base224. A lid 227, which is hinged to the top of the back wall 225, has aperipheral skirt 228 for retaining the flaps 226 in a vertical positionwhen the lid 227 is closed. The lid is biased towards the open positionby a lid spring 229 but held closed by a catch 230, which engages atongue 231 on a latch slide 232. This latch slide is arranged to slideup and down between guides 233 on a backplate 234 arranged parallel to,and fitting over, the back wall 225. An operating tab 235 of the latchslide 232 extends through a slot 236 in the backplate 234. The latchslide is biased towards its topmost position by means of a latch slidespring 237.

[0047] A peg 238 extends from the lid 227 at one corner adjacent thehinge. A striker plate 239 on the latch slide 232 extends from thebackplate 234 at the other rear corner of the lid.

[0048] The backplate 234 has a dovetail connecter 240 on one side and aslot (not shown) of corresponding size on the other side. The boxes areconnected together by inserting the dovetail connector of one box intothe slot of another box.

[0049] By depressing operating tab 235 of one box and moving latch slide232 downwards against the force of latch slide spring 237, tongue 231disengages from catch 230 and lid 227 is raised about its hinge by lidspring 229. Skirt 228 no longer holds flaps 226, and any of the flapswhich do not abut adjacent boxes fall open. At the same time peg 238 oflid 227 hits the striker plate of the adjacent box, if one is attached,causing its latch slide to move downwardly and opening the box. In thismanner, a series of connected boxes is opened with a pleasing “dominoeffect”.

[0050]FIG. 12 shows an opened box according to a fourth embodiment, inwhich five elastic representative objects are extended, namely a vampire324 attached to the base of the box, a ghost 325 attached to a firstfolded down wall, a hand 326 attached to a second folded down wall, amummy 327 attached to a third folded down wall and a bat 328 attached tothe raised lid. In addition to the elastic representative objects 325,326, 327, 328, a number of rigid representative objects 329 are moldedintegrally with the base, walls and lid.

[0051] The representative object(s) in this aspect of the inventioncould be any kind of human, animal or imaginary figure or a plant orvehicle etc, or components (such as furniture) of a play setrepresenting the inside of a house, kitchen or other room, garden etc.

[0052]FIG. 13 shows a closed container according to the other aspect ofthe invention, in the form of a zip-up purse. FIG. 14 shows thecontainer opened to form a toy hairdressing salon. Concealed springs,and/or any elastomeric representative objects in the toy, cause aninitial rapid opening, with inside surfaces of the container thenrepresenting different floor portions 401, 402 and wall 403 of thesalon. A counter 404 and a chair 405 then slowly pivot out to thepositions shown in FIG. 13 under the action of concealed dampenedsprings. A FIG. 406 in the chair 405 may be elastomeric or rigid and maybe supplied as a separate item and placed in position subsequently. Amirror 407 can be made to “pop up” by a sprung pushbutton-operatedmechanism (not shown) and the chair 405 can be swiveled to differentpositions.

[0053]FIG. 15 shows an alternative closed container in the form of a bagor hamper, which opens to form a swimming pool toy as shown in FIG. 16.Sections 501, 502 of the container are caused to form sections of apool, and further sections 503, 504 which are concealed when thecontainer is closed fold out to complete the pool. Another side 505 ofthe container represents a poolside portion when opened, featuring a sunlounger 506 which can be made to fold by a pushbutton mechanism (notshown). A central substantially rigid building part 507 has a foldingspringboard 508 with an optionally detachable FIG. 509 and a two partfolding slide 510. A canopy 511 with a pop-up sign 512 is supported onpillars 513 which slowly slide out of the building part 507 to raise thecanopy after the container is opened.

[0054] In addition to the springing out of the representative object(s),opening of containers according to the invention could trigger one ormore other events, such as music or other sounds, lights, or othermotion (for example rotation) of the container or its contents.

1. A toy comprising an openable container, and a non-porous, molded,hollow, elastic three-dimensional representative object arranged to becontained in a compressed condition within the container such that onopening the container the object springs out by assuming itsuncompressed shape and size.
 2. A toy according to claim 1, wherein therepresentative object is selected from the group consisting of a human,an animal, a cartoon or fantasy figure and a vehicle.
 3. A toy accordingto claim 1, wherein the representative object is injection molded fromrubber or an elastomeric material.
 4. A toy according to claim 1,wherein the representative object is molded in one piece.
 5. A toyaccording to claim 1, wherein the container comprises a lid which isreleased to open the container.
 6. A toy according to claim 5, whereinthe container comprises a capsule to which the lid is attached with aninterference fit.
 7. A toy according to claim 5, wherein a releasablecatch is provided for securing the lid to the container.
 8. A toyaccording to claim 7, wherein a spring is provided for biasing the lidinto an open position.
 9. A toy according to claim 7, wherein thecontainer comprises a parallelepiped box arranged to be demounted onreleasing the lid.
 10. A toy according to claim 7, wherein the containeris capable of being attached to another shaped container.
 11. A toyaccording to claim 7, wherein opening of the container causes anadjacently fitted container to open.
 12. A toy comprising an openablecontainer, and a three-dimensional representative object arranged-to becontained within the container such that on opening the container theobject springs out, the container being arranged for attachment toanother container, wherein opening of the container causes theadjacently fitted other container to open.
 13. A toy according to claim1 or 12, wherein the representative object is temporarily attached tothe inside of the container.
 14. A toy according to claim 1 or 12,wherein at least a portion of the container is capable of forming aplinth on which the object can be stood.
 15. A toy according to claim 1or 12, wherein the representative object is permanently attached to theinside of the container.
 16. A toy comprising an openable container, anda plurality of representative objects concealed within the containersuch that on opening the container, the objects spring out in apredetermined order.
 17. A toy according to claim 16, wherein at leastone of the representative objects comprises a representative surface onan inside of a flap forming a portion of the container.
 18. A toyaccording to claim 16, wherein on opening the container, at least onefirst representative object springs out quickly and at least one secondrepresentative springs out slowly so that it is finally deployed afterthe first representative object is deployed.
 19. A toy according toclaim 18, comprising further parts of the toy arranged to fold out underthe action of gravity or under a user's control.
 20. A toy according toclaim 1, 12 or 16, wherein a plurality of elastic representative objectsis contained within the container.
 21. A toy according to claim 20,wherein said at least one relatively rigid representative object isarranged to spring out of the container when the latter is opened.
 22. Atoy according to claim 1, 12 or 16, wherein the object or at least oneof the objects is decorated.
 23. A toy according to claim 1, 12 or 16,wherein the container is decorated on its outside and/or its inside. 24.A toy according to claim 1, 12 or 16, wherein the representative objector at least one of the representative objects is arranged to spring outgenerally vertically from the container.
 25. A toy according to claim 1,12 or 16, wherein the representative object or at least one of therepresentative objects is arranged to spring out generally laterallyfrom the container.
 26. A toy according to claim 1, 12 or 16, whereinopening of the container triggers another action in addition to thespringing out of the representative object.